Issue One Welcome to the first print issue of the new year, and my first after taking the reigns as Editor. It’s exciting, if a little nerve-racking to be in charge, and I certainly have some big shoes to fill. As we start to distribute the magazine Freshers’ Week has begun, which signals the return to university and to hard work. And of course, with Freshers’ Week comes a brand new group of students. To anyone who is just joining us at Southampton, welcome! You have made a great choice in Southampton, and I can honestly say it’s held some of the best memories in my life so far. For those just discovering The Edge, we are the University of Southampton’s entertainment magazine, and we exist to satisfy all of your entertainment needs. We cover a range of entertainment topics and inside our pages (and on our website) you can discover reviews, features, interviews, and news on topics from True Detective to Assasin’s Creed, to introducing you to a new great artist or discovering the best latest film release. When I started writing for The Edge I never would have imagined that I would become Editor and there are so many opportunities for anyone who is interested in entertainment journalism. You can find out more information about us on page 4. Last year was one of the best that The Edge has ever had, with our further development of our award-winning design and our increase of press opportunities as well as a brand new website. Now, we want to continue our commitment to quality over this next year ahead. We have increased the size of The Edge from 32 pages to 36 – which means more entertainment for you to pour over! Inside you can take a look at our previews of some of the best gigs to attend this Autumn on page 31. Want to know about some of the best TV shows that have yet to review a UK release date? You can have a look at our run down on pages 26-27. We also got the chance to interview The Proclaimers on the tour of the UK and you can catch that on page 8. I cannot wait to see what this year holds for the magazine and I hope all you new students enjoy reading and/or being part of The Edge as I do. It’s all so exciting! Natalie Fordham Editor 01
THE EDGE
Editor Natalie Fordham editor@theedgesusu.co.uk Deputy Editor Lewis Taplin deputy-editor@theedgesusu.co.uk records Editor Amy Wootten records@theedgesusu.co.uk Features Editor Millie Cassidy features@theedgesusu.co.uk film Editor Ben Robins film@theedgesusu.co.uk C u lt u r e e d i t o r Harrison Abbott culture@theedgesusu.co.uk live Editor Will Hodgetts live@theedgesusu.co.uk news Editor Anneka Honeyball news@theedgesusu.co.uk head of design Jack Gracie design@theedgesusu.co.uk Head of external relations Georgia Simpson relations@theedgesusu.co.uk Head of publicity Helen Archer publicity@theedgesusu.co.uk Head of events Annabelle Asker events@theedgesusu.co.uk online manager Jack Lewin manager@theedgesusu.co.uk editor in chief Kerry Sclater vpdci@susu.org
Contents editorial
film
01 Welcome to Issue One 03 Why Write for the Edge
20 Actor in Focus: Jauquin Pheonix 21 Review: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl 22 Review: A Girl At My Door 22 Blu-ray Review: Avengers - Age of Ultron 23 One to Watch: The Lobster
NEWS
04 The Newsbox 05 Notes on News: Kardashians - Swapping Ignorance for Influence? 06 Nostalgic News
culture
25 Lost in the Atlantic 2: Electric Boogaloo 27 Series to Sink Your Teeth Into: The Dresden Files 28 How to Fix: Assassin’s Creed
Features
07 Interview: The Proclaimers 09 Venue Guide 11 Not Just a Heatwave: Summer Releases That Will Last 13 I Saw That First: The Pilots That Got Us Addicted
live
25 Acts we Want to Come to Southampton 26 Preview: Josh Widdicombe @ The Nuffield 27 Preview: Wolf Alice @ 02 Guildhall 28 Preview: Fall Out Boy @ BiC
Records
15 Album of the month 17 Review: Jess Glynne - ‘I Laugh When I Cry’ 17 Review: FKA Twigs - ‘M33LI55X’ 18 Review: Disclosure - Caracal 19 Review: Disclosure - Omen feat. Sam Smith 19 Review: Wolf Alice - You’re A Germ 19 Review: Sigala - Easy Love
29 Listings
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WHY WRITE FOR THE EDGE? e Edge g for Th really in it r w d e I start even though I g of quite late crib the beginninto write wanted to I really wanted that my year. about the Oscars owever, and something read by anyone hen, became would be article became t ally easy then one d so on. It’s re prepared twenty an volved, if you’re ourself up to get in ionate and put y to be passles for artic eabrook George S
I towoanrldys rtehaelly started w it’s served end of last riting for Th as a eE yea sho passuetrisn-gbym. y opinionms oanrkvei d imprr,ovaemndenalreaddgye deo g It’s t fr ab senslae titoon ydoiscuss aanybrilploipant waaymfeosrayt randoomm u’re ou to sam cu and peoptuimlaer being paabsslieontaote abolutut,rawlhiolr medibae Thomas Da magazine. write for a e at the vies credible I started writing for The Edge in October, last yea r. Being a Film and English student, my main passions in life are writing and abso two anything put on screen. So natu rally, Thelutely appealed to me straight away. The idea of Edge something I had written in an actual having magazine also thrilled me beyond belief printed own sad, strange little way). As I’ve buil (in my article count, my enjoyment of and dedt up my to The Edge has only increased - I’m ication editor now. The Edge is the only societyeven an truly a part of. And that’s not just because I feel technically the only one I actually signed up it was but also because it is run and occupied by for... some of the loveliest, most passionate people around. Anneka Honeyball
Do you have a passion for writing, or love the entertainment world? Fancy press tickets to a festival, or to review your favourite band? Or perhaps you want to interview your favourite artist, or attend a press conference with some of the world’s biggest actors? Would you like to see your writing in print? As part of The Edge you can write as much or as little as you want, and can write about a range of entertainment topics. We have eight print editions a year, and constant online content. From reviews and features, to interviews and comment pieces on older records and films, you can go from exploring an entertainment topic that interests you, like the modern phenomenon of television binge watching, to reviewing the latest Marvel Studios blockbuster. We have six sections: News, Records, Film, Features, Culture and Live, which means that you can write about anything in the entertainment world. The Edge isn’t just for English students – we welcome students from all kinds of degree background, and you don’t have to be a fresher starting this year to get involved! All that matters is having a passion for entertainment journalism, or a desire to write. The Edge has developed over the last four years to become bigger and better – even winning Best Design at the Student Publication Awards two years ago. We have also had great opportunities to attend press conferences with stars for Captain America: Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, Ex-Machina, Pitch Perfect 2, Maleficent and Into the Woods. We have secured press tickets to V Festival Blissfields, Bestival, Isle of Wight Festival and The Secret Garden Party. We have also had the chance to interview Samuel L Jackson, Anna Kendrick, Elizabeth Banks, Fatboy Slim, Years & Years, Bowling For Soup, Lucy Rose, Rob Da Bank, Oritse Williams, Louise Brealey and Example amongst many others. Being involved in The Edge is a great opportunity for you to explore the world of journalism, practise writing and get feedback. In addition to all of these great things, being part of The Edge looks great on your CV, gives you the chance to get close to some big stars, and it is a lot of fun!
Get Involved at theedgesusu.co.uk/about
NEWS
THE NEWSBOX THE KEATS OF TWEETS
TOP TOP FIVE FIVE NEWS NEWS STORIES STORIES 1
2
Boy George 9th and March, Paloma Annie Faith have Beginning Mac will take joined The Voice replacing Tom Jonesfrom over the slot ofUK, Monday to Thursday and onto the9pm coaching panel. the Rita hoursOra 7pm on Radio 1, replacing Zane Lowe. One set to take a “well earned The Direction Theory ofareEverything’s Felicity Jones break” from creating and performing music to and Life of Pi’s Irrfan Khan are confirmed in 2016. star in Inferno, the latest film to be adapted
3
Quentin Tarantino will released thehis firstdirectorial trailer Ewan McGregor make for his latest film, The Hateful Eight, starring debut with the upcoming film, American Kurt Russell and Samuel L Jackson. Pastoral, replacing Phillip Noyce. The drama
4
Bill confirmed that he will be of SueMurray Perkinshas is to host Thronecast, a Game making a cameo appearance in the new Thrones spin-off which will air live after each Ghostbusters reboot.
5
The Southampton’s own act RaeUniversity Morris is of confirmed as thevery support Cake Decorating Society is set to appear on for Tom Odell when he tours this Summer. an episode of The Great British Bake Off ’s sister show, An Extra Slice.
ENTERTAINMENT PICKS Film Editor
Legend, starring Tom Hardy as the Krays (09/09/15)
Culture Editor
Rick and Morty: Season 1, FOX (10/09/2015)
Records Editor
Every Open Eye - Chvrches (25/09/2015)
a
@ladygag
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Lady Gaga held a bloody party for her American Horror Story: Hotel castmates. Though there weren’t many pictures, Gaga did share an image of her pool - which was dyed blood -red for the occasion. Got a celeb to nominate for next issue? Let us know:
@theedgesusu
THE THE EDGE EDGE IS IS EAGER EAGER FOR... FOR... Captain America The firstBlur trailer for MarBlur’s new album.Civil LateWar: last month, unveiled a vel’s ensemble feature was single unveiled to their the newupcoming track entitled ‘Go Out’ , the lead from lucky few atalbum, this year’s D23 Expo. Hopupcoming The Disney Magic Whip, due toWe’re be released ing see ittheir ourselves soon! in 12 years. thistoApril, first release Deadpool: This Summer sawhas thebeen release of many conThe new Alien film, which recently been trailers, but the 9’s sweary, adrenaline-fuelled teaser for firmed. District Neill Blomkamp is to direct the new Deadpool favourite. Reynolds film from was 20thour Century Fox,Starring as well Ryan as Ridley Scott as the “Mercaswith the Mouth”, Deadpool will be hitting confirmed the producer. cinemas in Februrary 2016. Resident EvilT2in Remake: Capcom a This year’s the Park. It has has beenannounced announcedthat that remake of the survival is currently Kasabian, Thebeloved Libertines andhorror Noel game Gallagher are to in development. headline, with other names like Sam Smith and Jessie Lip Sync Battle2015. UK: Channel announced that it Glastonbury With Foo5 has Fighters confirmed asisa bringing the immensely popular US Summer’s miming show to headliner, The Edge is eager for this biggest the UK in 2016 festival.
Live Editor
Wolf Alice @ Southampton Guildhall (23/09/2015) Go to page 30 to read our preview!
Editor
Last Man On Earth: Season 2, Dave (28/09/15)
for all the latest entertainment news theedgesusu.co.uk/news THE EDGE
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NEWS
Notes on News:
The Kardashians: Swapping ignorance for influence? WRITTEN BY GEORGIA SIMPSON
They are the family taking over all forms of media from the worlds of television, social media, music and fashion, The Kardashian/Jenner clan is ruling all. The family first hit our TV screens in 2007 with their reality show, Keeping Up With the Kardashians. But does their domination of the entertainment industry help or hinder cultural minorities? One could argue that the ‘famous for being famous’ family are hindering minorities by exploiting them, rather than using the power that they have as celebrities to set a more positive outlook on different cultures. For example, last year Khloe shared a series of photographs of herself in a Native American headdress. In Native American culture, authentic headdresses are sacred to the plain tribes. Khloe, meanwhile had no reason for wearing it on the reality show. Once the episode had aired, she was accused of being ignorant and displaying cultural appropriation.
Similarly the youngest, Kylie Jenner, has also been accused of cultural appropriation for wearing her hair in cornrows. After posting an image of herself with the hairstyle, Amandla Stenberg (Hunger Games ) commented: “you appropriate black features and culture, but fail to use your position of power to help black Americans by directing attention towards your wigs instead of police brutality or racism.” Kylie responded with an ‘I don’t care’ kind of attitude. She has also given a similar response when wearing bindis - a traditional Hindu head decoration. However, in the last year alone, the majority of the Kardashian-Jenner brood have tried to improve the way in which they promote themselves. Their recent special, About Bruce, is perhaps the most astute example of the family’s progression in helping minorities. The show focalised on Caitlyn (then Bruce) coming out to her family and trying to educate everyone about transgender issues. Similarly, the purpose of her new series, I Am Cait, is to depict Caitlyn’s transition and her own personal journey into womanhood - in the hope of educating viewers on such transgender issues as high suicide rates, discrimination and the regular misuse of correct pronouns. Meanwhile, The Kardashians are also embracing the idea of educating their fans and followers. One way Kim has done this is by highlighting the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide - a historic event wherein 1.5 million Armenians were murdered - in a recent instagram post. In a contrary move to her step-sister, Kim’s efforts to educate and encourage young people to learn more about their own heritages/privileges is decidedly inspiring. While the young Kylie Jenner may be impervious to her status, her family are making efforts to help minorities, with Caitlyn’s attempts to raise awareness on a very controversial subject in the United States - a place that only recently allowed gay marriage - being especially aspirational. If the Kardashians continue on this path of awareness and education, they could grow into universal role models, using their celebrity to make actual change, not only in the landscape of television and social media, but also in the real world that we all live in.
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NEWS
nostalgic news Another round up of things that happened this month in years gone by.
Taylor Swift's breakout single, 'Love Story', was released seven years ago Georgia Simpson Taylor Swift released her star-making single, ‘Love Story’, seven years ago, on 12th September 2008. Taken from her second studio album Fearless, ‘Love Story’ was the song that pushed Swift into the spotlight and made her the one to watch in modern country music. Written and performed by Swift, this instant hit was inspired by William Shakespeare’s bittersweet tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. Upon release, critics applauded Swift’s writing style, as well as the beautiful and complex plot of the song. It was also a staggering commercial success, selling over eight million copies worldwide and peaking at number two in the UK singles charts.
American Beauty was first released in US cinemas, 16 years ago Charlotte Cowley American Beauty, was first released in the US sixteen years ago, on 17th September 1999. Written by Alan Ball and directed by Sam Mendes, the film has since remained a timeless classic. Kevin Spacey stars as a middle-aged office worker named Lester, who appears to be living a typically happy, middle-class life in suburban America. However, behind closed doors, his wife and teenage daughter treat him with disdain. The film won five Oscars, six BAFTAs, and three Golden Globe awards and grossed over $356 million at the worldwide box office.
The first season of Supernatural premiered on the WB, 10 years ago Sophie McEvoy The popular paranormal-horror series, Supernatural first premiered ten years ago, on 13th September 2005. Created by Eric Kripke, the show follows brothers, Sam and Dean Winchester (Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles) as they hunt demons, ghosts, monsters, supernatural beings and urban legends throughout America. Kripke's original plan was to have the series run for three seasons, but he later let the storyline run until the end of season five. The show has since carried on for several more seasons with Sera Gamble and Jeremy Carver replacing Kripke as showrunners. An eleventh season is set to premiere this October.
Pride and Prejudice first premiered on BBC One, 20 years ago Rebecca James One of the most influential Austen adaptations of all time, Pride and Prejudice premiered on BBC One 20 years ago, on 24th September 1995. Telling the story of five sisters and their quest to make the best match, the BBC production split Austen's novel into six episodes. The show starred Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennett and Colin Firth as Mr Darcy. The role catapulted Firth to stardom, imprinting the minds of many with his now infamous ‘wet shirt scene’, while Ehle won a BAFTA for her performance. The show was universally praised for its faithfulness to the source material and also contributed to what has been called the ‘Austen Mania’ of the 1990’s.
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FEATURES
Interview:
THE PROCLAIMERS MILLIE CASSIDY
Twins Charlie and Craig Reid have been making music as The Proclaimers for 30 years; from their first album in 1987 to the enduring ‘500 Miles’, they have brought Scotland to fans the world over. Ahead of a UK Tour, I got to chat to the brothers about how they got to where they are.
You’ve never shied from social commentary, is that something you always try to include?
Craig: I always try to get a song that is - hopefully original. If you do it about a subject matter that you don’t think anyone else has tackled then it will be. The words are more important to us than the music. So I think you’re looking for that, for a first couple of lines that introduce, that sound different to anybody else.
So do you have a secret to your success?
Charlie: I think we’re different. I think we sound
different; we certainly look different! There’s varied subject matter in the songs, and I think the songs are uplifting. Not all of them, but some of them are. And some acts appear to have no songs whatsoever that are uplifting! So I think that contributes to some degree to longevity. There’s a bit of wit in the songs as well, and we certainly attack them. We don’t short change them. Craig: There’s a thing where people’ll come backstage and time after time they’ll say: oh we play your songs at family parties, or weddings. So it’s a communal thing. People sing the songs, groups of people sing them together, and so they want to come and hear us do it.
Read the whole interview at theedgesusu.co.uk 07
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When you were writing your big hits, did you know they’d be so successful?
Craig: Some stuff, ‘I’m On My Way’, you don’t know. But ‘500 Miles’? There are very few songs like that, that last. It’s probably as big now as it was when it was a hit. Charlie: There are acts who have sold two, three, ten times the records we’ve sold – but they’ve never had a record as big as that. Maybe had a lot more hits, but none of them have endured. It just keeps coming back like a boomerang.
You’ve said before that you fear the song’s going to be more famous than you!
Craig: Oh, it’s a lot more famous. Charlie: We accepted that a long time ago!
Is there any advice you’d give to young people who want to make music? Craig: The desire to do it I think’s more important than talent. I absolutely believe that. I think it’s good if you’ve got some talent, but if you just do what you do, you will improve naturally. I would say don’t copy; everybody’s influenced, everybody gets up and starts doing this because they’ve heard somebody else do it, but try and tell your story in your way. Charlie: I did an interview and someone asked: “What advice would you give to your 23-year-old self?” And looking back – your instincts were right. They were never once wrong, and everything you thought was crap... Whenever you thought, ‘this is how we should do it’, the instinct was correct. I think for most people, being true to yourself is the way to do it.
FEATURES
Southampton is a great city, but when you’re looking for something to do it can be a little overwhelming. Where should I be listening to what kind of music? Which is the cheapest cinema? What if I want something a bit different? Have no fear; here’s our rundown of every venue - musical, theatrical or otherwise - where you can delight your cultural tastebuds. Whether you’re a fresher, or a returning student back for just another year, in a city as rich and diverse as ours there’s always something new to discover. Good luck!
CULTURAL SPACES
SITES AT UNIVERSITY
Stage Door: The only fringe-style cabaret theatre, restaurant and bar in Southampton. Offering a wide variety of shows including ‘9 to 5’, ‘Rent’ and ‘Dogfight’, this new venue is to see some excellent shows in the intimate 100-person theatre while sipping on relatively cheap cocktails and snacks!
Union Films: If you want to catch a film without the hassle, head to SUSU’s own cinema! Student-run with ridiculously cheap prices, all the new releases, plus independent and world cinema all conveniently located right next to the vintage snack dispensary of Bar 3. What’s not to love?
Mayflower: Located in the centre of town, right next to Mayflower Halls, the Mayflower Theatre is one of the biggest and most beloved entertainment venues in the city. Playing host to a plethora of visiting productions - from musicals to pantomimes - it’s a tad on the pricey side, but it sure knows how to deliver a show.
Nuffield Theatre: Located at the very heart of Highfield Campus, the Nuffield Theatre is perhaps the most accessible venue for any cultured student. With a range of different theatre productions, as well as the odd stand-up show from visiting comedians, the Nuffield is a small yet hearty place to sit back and take in the majesty of live performance.
The Art House: This grassroots cafe-gallery serves organic food and drink night and day, and should be your go-to place for slam poetry, local art, fringe theatre, book readings and regular meetings of craft or talent groups to suit every taste.
The Annex: The home of SUSU’s Performing Arts, The Annex is where you’ll want to catch any of the university’s 38 societies that put on regular musical, theatrical and dance performances. It’s the perfect chance to see a rendition of your favourite show, while supporting your friends who are in it at the same time.
Cineworld: A nice in-between cinema, with plenty of leg room and a relatively quiet atmosphere, Cineworld is a great (and surprisingly cheap) place to catch all the latest and most popular releases. Odeon: The city’s busiest and priciest cinema, but certainly the one with the most choice. It even boasts an IMAX, making it definitely the go-to venue for the biggest releases. Harbour Lights Picturehouse: The home of Southampton’s arthouse scene, playing everything from the latest Woody Allen to your favourite classic movies and that random documentary you heard of that one time. And with cheap student memberships, it’s affordable too! 09
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Laughter Lounge: Once a fortnight, The Bridge becomes home to Comedy Central UK as some of your favourite comedians step up and have a go at making you giggle. Having previously hosted big names such as Seann Walsh and Romesh Ranganathan as well as hugely talented up-and-comers, Laughter Lounge gives you the chance to let off a little steam, while taking advantage of your favourite drink and food deals.
FEATURES
GO-TO PLACES FOR MUSIC Joiners: Arguably the most prestigious and well-known of Southampton’s music venues. Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, and Oasis are just a select few of the massive names who have played The Joiners in the year or two before becoming international superstars. NME named the 200-capacity venue as Britain’s best small music venue back in 2013 how about that? Talking Heads: Proudly the South Coast’s most eclectic music venue, the beloved Talking Heads is steeped in history. Narrowly saved from closure in 2012, the pub hosts big names in everything from heavy metal to jazz and reggae in an effort to accompany great booze with great live music every single night. What’s more, a variety of our music societies have regular slots and help give you the perfect chance to see whatever it is you prefer! O2 Guildhall: Southampton’s most premier music venue and the largest multipurpose entertainment venue in Hampshire. When the world’s biggest artists fancy coming to the south coast, they play either at the BIC in Bournemouth, or the O2 Guildhall in Southampton. The likes of Pink Floyd, David Bowie, The Killers, Amy Winehouse and the Manic Street Preachers have all performed at the 1,750 capacity venue. The Hobbit: Southampton’s gem and everyone’s favourite local pub has more to offer than just great cocktails. With every Thursday being Tom Bombadil’s Open Mic Night and its split level set-up and huge garden that’s perfect for regular gigs, there’s no reason not to grab a Gimli and take in some fantastic live music.
Engine Rooms: Southampton’s newest music venue is also home to a variety of other entertainment nights including club nights, comedy, theatre, cinema, exhibitions and bespoke festivals. The Brook: This 600-capacity venue is the go-to place to see some of the world’s best tribute bands. Established artists also perform there, with the likes of Jess Glyne and Rixton making appearances in the last twelve months, but The Brook is more for rolling back the years than living in the present. The Concorde Club: Set in a beautiful old schoolhouse, this venue balances easy access with a chance of a quick break away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre. With tributes, jazz, orchestra and classy dining a plenty, this is where you should head for an entirely different evening. Orange Rooms: You’re likely to frequently visit this colourful club as part of your societies’ socials, but you should definitely try and make a trip some other time; it boasts both weekly open mics, regular one-off live gigs and film screenings. The 1865: Along with the Engine Rooms, The 1865 is one of Southampton’s newest music venues. Situated in the heart of the city, it is a great space with a stage and dancefloor viewable from two bars and large mezzanine.
Switch: Opening in 2014. Switch has quickly become Southampton’s host to some of the biggest international DJs. Boasting previous visits from Snoop Dogg, Hannah Wants, Annie Mac and Sigma, Switch’s lineups get bigger and better. This year will bring the return of Annie Mac Presents, Jaguar Skills, Sub Focus and Duke Dumont.
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FEATURES
NOT JUST A HEATWAVE: SUMMER RELEASES THAT WILL LAST ALBUM OF THE SEASON Everything Everything - Get To Heaven Get To Heaven, Everything Everything’s third studio release, continues their sprinkling of oddities and genre fluidity over the music industry, brought head to head with more of an alt-pop inflection than heard of the band before. The surrealist cover artwork, produced by New Zealand artist Andrew Archer, is perfectly in tune with the tone of the album; it’s bizarre, it’s odd, but above all- it’s enticingly beautiful. It’s an album that demands attention and won’t be dismissed as background music. The classification defying Get To Heaven is hopefully set to be a worthy contender for this year’s Mercury Prize (or it should be, at least). AMY WOOTTEN, RECORDS EDITOR
SINGLE OF THE SEASON CHVRCHES - ‘Leave a Trace’ ‘Leave a Trace’ was CHRVCHES first tease of new material from their sophomore album, Every Open Eye. Seemingly emerging out of nowhere, the track continues the electronic sound that courses through The Bones Of What You Believe, but with the edge slightly removed. There’s something a bit safer and more comforting about this track, whilst still showcasing Lauren Mayberry’s angelic vocals. The gloomy video for the track sparked interest too, seeing the frontwoman react to slut-shaming comments in reference to her depiction with wet hair. Her retaliation makes us like CHRVCHES, and their track, even more. AMY WOOTTEN, RECORDS EDITOR
LIVE PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON Ed Sheeran at Wembley Arena Amongst all of the big festival performances this summer, in particular a certain Kanye West at Glastonbury, there was one man whose star shone oh-so brightly on his own headline tour. Mr Edward Christopher Sheeran sold out Wembley Stadium for three consecutive nights, followed by two further sold out shows at Croke Park in Dublin. Still only 24 years of age, the world’s favourite singer-songwriter put on a spectacle that showed professionalism and experience well beyond his tender years. One man, one guitar, three microphones and a loop machine was all he needed. To anyone who wasn’t there, it is very difficult to explain just how good he was; but he was truly phenomenal. Despite everything he has achieved so far in his young career, it is still easy to say that we have only just scratched the surface of his potential. WILL HODGETTS, LIVE EDITOR
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FILM OF THE SEASON Inside Out It comes as no surprise that even in the shadow of world-conquering blockbusters such as Jurassic World, the summer was still no doubt won critically and emotionally by Pixar. It’s been a while (well, a good five years depending on who you talk to) since the Disney-based animation studio came out with something of such a high-calibre as this, and their triumphant return to the top spot is easily worth every ounce of praise it’s received. A daring and original tale set almost entirely within the mind of a young girl, Inside Out challenges not just its youthful target audience, but students, adults and pensioners alike. Beyond the colourful animation lies a seriously deep moral about accepting our emotions for what they are, a meaningful lesson wrapped neatly inside what proves to be an insanely entertaining and warm-hearted film. BEN ROBINS, FILM EDITOR
TV SHOW OF THE SEASON True Detective The summer period didn’t bring much in the way of stellar broadcasting (Autumn looks to be amazing) and whilst for the most part the second series of True Detective proved to be underwhelming and confusing, it did start to pick up towards the end, culminating in a frankly terrific season finale. Gorgeous visuals and a brilliant performance from Colin Farrell were dependable every week, and the refusal to pander with a happy ending was brave and admirable. It wasn’t perfect, but it had big shoes to fill and boldly chose to divert from the previously successful formula, for better or worse. HARRISON ABBOTT, CULTURE EDITOR
VIDEO GAME OF THE SEASON Rare Replay Summer is traditionally a slow period for gaming. Everyone is outside enjoying the weather and all of the biggest games want Christmas release dates instead. So nobody really wants to bring out a game during the Summer. Despite the relative dearth of good titles, there was some worthwhile stuff this year, mostly of the indie variety, but there was also Arkham Knight and a smattering of next-gen remasterings. In the end though, the game that really gave you value for your money was Rare Replay; a compilation of 30 games from revered developer Rare. Encompassing everything from retro classic Battletoads (1991) to their flagship series Banjo Kazooie (1998), to more recent releases like Viva Pinata (2006), Rare Replay also boasted new features and tons of behind-the-scenes material. There might not be anything new in this bundle, but coming from what is kind of like the Pixar of gaming, there’s equally nothing to complain about. This is a bright, charming and inventive collection that easily holds up against any big budget modern release. HARRISON ABBOTT, CULTURE EDITOR
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I SAW THAT FIRST: The Pilots That Got Us Addicted Parks and Recreation - REBECCA JAMES
Comedies have far less time in a pilot to capture your attention - 20 minutes is nothing in TV land but Parks and Recreation does this perfectly through its diverse and wonderful cast of characters. From the moment you are introduced to the Pawnee Parks department they grab you. Nick Offerman’s Ron Swanson is pure comedy gold, and it is great to see pre-Guardians Chris Pratt in all his comedic glory. In short, the pilot balances introducing the premise and the characters perfectly, leaving you wanting more.
Mad Men
- JACK GRACIE
This series is devoted to bringing you into the world of the characters; the 1960s high-flying New York business section, where sexism, racism and homophobia are abound underneath heavy clouds of cigarette smoke. The pilot does this brilliantly (and hilariously) by dropping you in at the deep end. This episode perfectly establishes not only the period, but the characters, their arcs, and the central themes, such as the perception and realities of ourselves. All of which are showcased in the introduction of the now famous protagonist, Don Draper. The rest is history. Literally.
The Shield - BEN ROBINS
Despite running for seven long, increasingly dark and unsettling seasons, everything about The Shield - from its overall themes and tone, right down to its eventual finale - comes right the way back to the pilot. The epic tale of corrupt LAPD detective Vic Mackey begins with a single gunshot, marking the murder of a fellow officer and the start of a seven year odyssey towards the total collapse of human decency. There are plenty of shows that require a couple of episodes to let you adjust to the characters and set-up the overarching story. Yet The Shield is very much the opposite, nailing its intentions right from the off and leaving behind a pilot that is very much the perfect example of the show in its entirety: brave, twisted and utterly compelling.
Modern Family - GEORGIA SIMPSON
Modern Family first aired in September 2009. The pilot focuses on three sets of people who are all equally adorable, flamboyant and quick-witted, and who make up the large American family. What really shines in the episode is the chemistry between the cast, which is sold by fantastic performances particularly from Eric Stonestreet and Sofia Vegara - and the wonderful writing from Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd. It is no surprise the episode won an Emmy award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series and later spun into six seasons of the hit TV show.
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FEATURES
In celebration of the start of a new university year, our writers take a look at the opening TV show episodes that really promised great things for the future. Boardwalk Empire - CONOR KAVANAGH
Boardwalk Empire’s pilot comes from the powerhouse team of legendary director Martin Scorsese and Sopranos writer Terrence Winter. Set in Atlantic City on the eve of prohibition, the pilot depicts the birth of the modern American gangster, through the sale of illegal alcohol. Like Mad Men before it, Boardwalk Empire meticulously recreates its setting, and with great performances from the ensemble cast (including Steve Buscemi and Kelly Macdonald), the pilot sets up the show tremendously, making this a must-watch for fans of period dramas or the gangster genre.
Archer - MATT CLARSON
Many comedies fail to hit the ground running, often needing a few episodes for the cast to gel together, or for the writers to really nail the humour. That’s certainly not the case with the Archer pilot. Before the title-sequence even starts to roll, it is abundantly clear what kind of show Archer will be: irreverent, outrageous, hilarious. The rest of the episode goes on to set up several of the show’s numerous running jokes, firmly establish all the main characters, and deliver spot-on comedy every other line.
The X-Files - SOPHIE McEVOY
Some shows take a season or two to find their footing, but The X-Files managed to lay its groundwork within the pilot episode. Debuting 10th September 1993, the first episode brought all the unique quirks and recurring themes that would cement the series as a cultural touchstone for the 90s. Not only do we get our first introduction to FBI Agents Mulder and Scully, but they also get their first introduction to each other. Assigned to a project outside the mainstream Bureau, Scully is sent down to the basement to debunk the work of a wayward UFO-obsessed agent, Fox ‘Spooky’ Mulder. Together, Mulder and Scully begin their journey of investigating the so called ‘X-Files’; cases that remain unresolved due to the inclusion of paranormal phenomena.
The West Wing - GEORGE SEABROOK
The pilot opens with a pre-credits introduction to key White House staffers, every second stuffed with dialogue, not one word of it explaining who they are or what they do. The President Of The United States has fallen off his bicycle, and the media sensation this could cause is the least of the staff ’s problems. We bounce back and forth between the characters as they struggle with the consequences of their actions.And in the last five minutes, President Bartlett finally walks into the room, played by the brilliant Martin Sheen. A tone is set: fun, fast, and firmly rooted in character drama, and all in some brilliantly written dialogue. A pilot that doesn’t ever play like a pilot.
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RECORDS
Album of the Month:
September is an excitingly packed month full of releases, with follow ups from Disclosure, The Libertines, Stereophonics, CHVRCHES and Bring Me The Horizon. But it’s the velvety vocals of Lana Del Rey who The Edge has picked for their first Album of the Month. Honeymoon is Del Rey’s follow up to Born To Die and last year’s Ultraviolence. Teased with the release of ‘Honeymoon’ via YouTube and ‘High By The Beach’ in August, the album will also feature Del Rey’s cover of Nina Simone’s ‘Please Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood’. Her latest track, ‘Terrence Loves You’ features calls to the lyrics of David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’. Saturated with her statement moody tones and balanced by her beautiful vocals, Honeymoon is set to be an artfully noir concept album. The great part is that she hasn’t given much away in the run up to its release, leaving anticipation to bubble. Here’s what us at The Edge are looking forward to about Honeymoon.
“Lana’s new single is excellent and hopefully reflects the quality of the new album. I have high hopes for this one considering the quality of previous albums.” ALICE HEARING “Lana’s music is so sensual and mysterious. She transports you to a world where the 1950s American Dream crosses over with Keruoac’s On The Road, and it transfixes you within it. I’m always intrigued to see what she comes up with.” DANIELLE TOPAZ
“Lana Del Rey has an unrivalled ability to create a mood; her voice is ethereal, timeless and effortlessly glamorous. She makes you nostalgic for a life you’ve never lived, and I can’t wait to see where she takes us to next.” MILLIE CASSiDY CASSIDY
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“’High By The Beach’ is, regardless of its simplicity, a beautiful track and I have had it on repeat for days, as I’m sure I will for Honeymoon, and I have done for her previous releases. Lana’s voice just does something to me and I am buzzing to hear what she has to offer next.” MOLLIE COHEN “Since her debut, it feels as though Lana Del Rey has somehow travelled from the 50s/60s to give us a mysterious blend of the music of the time with a modern, trip-hop twist. There’s no doubt in my mind that she’ll bring another layer of her unique style to the table with Honeymoon.” SOPHIE McEVOY
RECORDS FILM
JESS GLYNNE- I CRY WHEN I LAUGH HANNAH MyIREA
FKA Twigs - M3LL155X
Director: Glen Ficarra and John Requa Studio: Warner Bros. Out: 27th February
LEWIS TAPLIN
I Cry When I Laugh is full The ballad, ‘Saddest Vanilla’ Opening with ‘Figure 8’, the you down, you be picking of striking production and is like a British summer: EP demonstrates the epic a fight” and “You’ve got a good film, but on, not whatdimension you’re expecting: song writing. The influences dreary. Theatrack drones to twigs’ layered goddamn nerve”. George Seabrook reviews vary from track to track, and even the collaboration sound.Focus With a deep bass ranging from motown and with fellow British songstress and confident lyrics, twigs ‘Glass & Patron’, which first halfusoftoFocus is all about arguably the tricksshould of the have been or Far more its runtime, Focuslift works gospel (‘Ain’t Got To than Go’) half Emelie Sande can’t the The introduces an absorbing a very detailed, over-laden brilliantly as an introduction to record’s the world of con, to military rhythms (‘Don’t monotony. The other trackand thatit’s knows exactly what almost selected as the finale of the EP, exposition, look begins at that world. the con artist, little‘Take and the tricks, of Be So Hard On Yourself ’). to the ballad, MebigHome’ is with it’s doing. M3LL155X begins The with cast tingles, flutters two leads are all game a laugh, trade. Whilstofthe film maintain Of course,the this plethora only refuses mildly to better. Both this the around with athetrack that pushes and for twigs’ gentle operatic sounds cangenre makethroughout, the record sometimes songs sound warblingit’s X with musical boundaries complimented with Brennan Brown aswith Smith’svocals, straight-laced to itslike detriment, feel incohesive at times. Theand Factor performances. could partner fierce being endeavour. Finishing darkHowever, electronic sounds, a particular highlight. in still an effective entertaining movie.ItNicky introduction, ‘Strawberry justmost don’tofwork with whispers, ‘I’mfilm Your before becomes the track showcases second half of the the romance (Will Smith) has beenbea that con ballads artist for his the Fields’, is alife, lavishly Glynne.is hungry to break the Doll’ thenAlthough comes intothere fruition the going closeston, the in EP gets to the focus. is a con whileproduced Jess (MargotforRobbie) 80 secondsinto of electronic whirs through twigs’ morphed dance genre. With a deep the game. He reluctantly takes her on as his all of their interactions Jess and Nicky talk about and hums. ‘intern’ It was anand arbitrary Skimming over of thethe handful of themselves vocals, before theyrelationship. become repetitive beat and electronic and their It’s a frustrating shows her the tricks trade, choice, asbut what follows is more disappointing songs, Glynne’s crystal clear against the because riffs, it ‘Glass & Patron’ is for the movie to adopt feels so things become complicated when they tone not a resonant 60 minutes of debut record is a triumph. backdrop of a sizzling beat. the highlight of the album; pedestrian. When the con comes back into play become romantically involved. electro, which is what you’d It’s not cutting edge, nor seductive, epic, ingenious and at the very end, it doesn’t feel like part of the plan; expect from ‘Strawberry pushing the boundaries of ‘In Time’ sits in the centre of fearless, the track reflects the doesn’t work the suspense is Both Smith and Robbie with the Fields’. whatare popexcellent, music should be, the thebig EP reveal and begins as the mostand purpose of the EP. killed. latter continuing tobut prove herself capable of it’s a sound release. With conventional experience so and even stealing the chords, screen from What Jess sharing Glynne with, does well, crunchy piano disco far where twigs uses tame Disparate, courageous, and Smith,Itmeanwhile, returns after thevocals very This would have been to the nail coffinM3LL155X of a con she does icons. excellently. is riffs and her distinctive electronic sounds craftin the heroic, achieves but Focusmelodic turns outtrack. not to what be all about disappointing After Earth remind no surprise that the fizzing soaringto over eachusofall thethat 14 film, a pleasant many the other artists theuntil end.the It’s enchanting surprisingly funny, charming, stilland about as charming funny as it gets ‘Hold My he’s Hand’ ‘Don’t songs itand cements Glynne as a con It’s innot struggle to do: outperform or a legitimately film. match At the the centre of more than’ aboth few ofburgeoning the comedic grace notes It’s of and Be So Hard–On Yourself pop superstar. track develops its gorgeous chorus that brilliance of their all see is the relationship Jess andeffort. Nicky. are sold on hisonly facial topped theFocus UK charts. They’re upexpressions. from here. Barely a it we twigs throw the between track previous vibrant, scene up-tempo a totally different sphere, goes by pop when they’re both off-screen, and Ifinto it can’t follow the advice on its own poster (the I keep Cry When I Laughfrom was tagline M3LL155X was released on anthems, the withscript nauseatingly characterising it withdrop a firm conspires to them together reads “Never the con, ”) it still ends released 21st August via onR&B 13th fits August catchy choruses. sound, rapping lyrics a unique note, one that absolutely the via filmYoung Turks. start to finish. Atlantic. such “Whenbefore I’m holding that wasasshown it.
F
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RECORDS FILM REVIEW:
DISCLOSURE - CARACAL AMY WOOTTEN With its name taken from a rarely-seen desert lynx, Disclosure’s second album, Caracal, remains as illusive as the creature. It’s fluid and diverse - partly due to the range of collaborators on the album - but somehow seems a little more settled than their 2013 debut, Settle. The sense of urgency and franticness seems to be gone, allowing for a more balanced and rounded sound from the young Lawrence brothers. The Weeknd introduces us to Caracal with ‘Nocturnal’. Immersing listeners in an almost seven-minute-long track as an opener may be a strange choice, but it’s enticing: it encompasses the main elements of the album and so acts as a sort of an overture. Here we have statement vocals from a collaborator, a racing beat, and Disclosure’s statement staccato undercurrent. Following with ‘Omen’, the tempo is amped up and Sam Smith’s vocals are offset by continuous claps. The vocals seem a little lost among the undulating synths before the chorus kicks in and are the weakest element of the track. It’s no ‘Latch’. ‘Holding On’, featuring soul singer Gregory Porter, was the first official release of the album, following teaser track ‘Bang That’ that only made the cut to the fifteen track deluxe version. It showcases the duo at their best with soaring vocals expertly married with a statement beat and intoxicating electronic undulations throughout. ‘Magnets’ brings Lorde’s breathy vocals layered over lightly tapping drums, with her vocals adding a softer dimension than the punchy vocals of Lion Babe, who comes in on ‘Hourglass’- but there’s still something piercing about her repetition of “Pretty girls don’t know the things that I know”.
Disclosure only standalone on a handful of tracks on Caracal, giving a rawer sound when stepping away from the collaborations. ‘Jaded’ is the first offering, opening with a closed hi-hat combined with unhurried vocals, before the tempo is amped up and an intricately layered dance track evolves. Diversity may be present in Disclosure’s array of collaborators on Caracal, but ultimately most of the tracks have the same formulation that eventually becomes a little tiring. Granted, it’s this formulation that saw the success of Settle, but there’s something more controlled about their second album that stunts the drops and prevents you from becoming as immersed in the tracks as you would like to be. As singles, the fall into repetition is less of a problem, and it’s irritating that there isn’t a bad track on the album, but listening to them in succession inhibits their potential. What Caracal does well is provide listeners with an enticing range of artists collaborating with the Lawrence brothers, but where is falls short is its lack of musical diversity. Ultimately, all of the tracks could be an extension of the sound from 2013’s Settle; the opening of ‘Willing and Able’ is simply a down-tempo repeat of that of ‘Latch’, which is a lazy move. As a second album, Caracal doesn’t reach the progressive heights Disclosure’s debut set them up for. Caracal is out on Friday 25th September via Island.
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SINGLES REVIEWS
Disclosure Feat. Sam Smith
Omen
WOLF ALICE You’re A Germ
SIGALA EASY LOVE
MARCUS BRIDGELAND
TOBY LEVESON
JACK GRACIE
Their previous collaboration, ‘Latch’, catapulted Disclosure and Smith toward their recent successes, and although ‘Omen’ is no different in terms of that high quality chemistry between the two, it has a very different core sound and tempo.
In case you hadn’t noticed, Wolf Alice have arrived. Debut album My Love Is Cool lived up to the hype, earning a rapturous reception from critics and fans alike. ‘You’re A Germ’ is the third single from the record, and, quite simply, it’s huge.
This single has a less mainstream vibe, going back to Disclosure’s housegenre roots, and with Sam Smith back in the upbeat dance-pop genre where he personally belongs, the eerie and almost unnerving hook of ‘Omen’ is a definite winner.
Dark, moody, and sung in the charmingly dry manner frontwoman Ellie Rowsell is loved for, the first verse is typical of the North London foursome, growing and growing until the big drums and guitars kick in. The drastic changes in dynamics understandably draw comparisons to early nineties grunge, culminating in the screaming countdown preluding the thumping chorus. And then it hits, like a huge wave of crunching rock goodness. “Where’s Mum and Dad so you can tell them/You’re a dodgy fucker as well” the standout; this is a fan favourite, and it’s clear to see why.
Easy Love takes a song we all love, then gets that one annoying kid from primary school music lessons to play a three minute xylophone solo over it. Hand claps! Yeah! Kick Drums! Yeah! We all know the deal now. This is the latest in a string of songs using the “If it aint broke I’ll shove it down your throat” technique of DJing. Where they take an infectiously popular song, remove the verses and stick the catchy chorus in there over and over, apparently making it more than just a remix, but an entirely original piece. Voila. ‘Easy Love’ proves that the technique still works.
To conclude, ‘Omen’ brilliantly combines the funky, original Disclosure sound with Sam Smith’s upbeat dance side to create a high calibre summer track. ‘Omen’ was released on 4th September via Island/PMR.
Ending perfectly with the cackles of Roswell, one thing is clear: Wolf Alice belong on the big stage, and they’re not budging any time soon. ‘You’re A Germ’ was released on 4th September via Diry Hit. 19
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‘Easy Love’ was released on 4th September via Ministry of Sound.
FILM
Actor in Focus: Joaquin Phoenix Written by James Slaymaker
For my money, Joaquin Phoenix is one the greatest and most underrated actors of his generation. He’s also one of the most consistent - he hasn’t been in a bad movie since 2007, and several of them are genuine masterpieces. Phoenix doesn’t exactly disappear into his roles, but he’s a strikingly accomplished mannerist, which means that he’s able to inflict every small gesture and fluctuation in voice tone with a lived-in specificity that seems to be rooted in a complex and fully realised inner life. Even when he takes on emotionally intense roles, he avoids bombast, expressing extreme feelings through minor suggestions and implications, which makes him perfect for playing alienated characters that are deeply fragile and self-loathing on some level, but also smart enough to feel that they need to disguise these traits. He’s brilliant at conjuring a twitchy, animalistic carnality that forms an odd mesh with his fierce intelligence – in this respect, he reminds me a little of Daniel Day-Lewis. But while Day-Lewis’s performances tend to be built around a character’s stifled ferocity and barely repressed anxieties repeatedly rising to the surface explosively before being suppressed once again, Phoenix’s approach tends to be more oblique, constantly coming close to reaching a point of climax before re-asserting his composure. This tends to make him appear alternatingly infantile, goofy, belligerent and dangerously unpredictable. All the while, he remains
at a purposeful distance from the audience; he leaves the impression that behind every action is a myriad of complicated inner motives at play that we can only perceive a small part of.
• • •
Did you know?
In 2006, he was saved from the wreck of a car crash by Werner Herzog. In addition to acting, he’s directed a number of music videos for bands such as Silversun Pickups, People in Planes and Ringside. He spent a large chunk of his childhood in the religious group Children of God, which is where his family acquired the last name Phoenix.
The Films You Should Watch: The Immigrant James Gray’s 1920’s set drama about the roots of American capitalism. The Master Paul Thomas Anderson’s jagged portrait of the psychoanalysis boom in post-war America. Two Lovers James Gray’s modern day re-telling of White Nights, which brilliantly re-imagines the Dostoevskian introverted narcissist as a dude who still lives in his adolescent bedroom and is suspicious of prescription drug companies. THE EDGE
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Review:
BEN ROBINS Focusing solely on the exploits of socially-troubled young filmmaker Greg (Thomas Mann), Me and Earl and the Dying Girl tells the very story of its title, chronicling the year he spends befriending former childhood acquaintance Rachel who has since been diagnosed with Leukemia. Alongside Greg’s “co-worker”, best-friend and general partner in crime Earl, the pair set about breaking down their deepest fears and regrets as Rachel’s illness advances, uncovering the very essence of teenage life just as it appears to be about to slip out from underneath the both of them. This is a decidedly thoughtful effort, more so that is than what is usually expected of those daring to follow the classic coming-of-age formula. In fact, Jesse Andrews’ script – adapted from his own novel of the same name – is the real crowning glory here, a witty, insightful and seriously intelligent mishmash of goofy comedy and serious, grounded life drama. Its characters feel both rich and textured by the romanticised existence they live within whilst still seeming relatable enough to really get behind, helping to power a narrative that is pretty consistently entertaining. A large part of what helps this work though is the film’s central cast – a relatively low-key bunch whose dedication and genuine chemistry bring Andrews’ script to life with enough humour and charm to power the film for its entire run-time.
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This isn’t to say that every department is as well sourced however, as former TV director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon proves, not quite seeming to clue in to the film’s more human tone by trampling over it with a truly unnecessary barrage of pointlessly complicated camera-movements. Luckily as the film progresses, the director appears to learn the value of restraint more and more, but the very fear of a shot being needlessly thrown onto its side still emanates throughout. If Earl is to run into any other problems though, it’s most likely to do with its thoroughly in-bred quirk. The further into Greg’s head the film journeys, the more obscure its references and visuals become, starting out as simply a few smart-ass titles but eventually morphing into an innate, lasting smugness that will no doubt deter the more cynically minded from cluing into its grand emotional conclusion. Whilst it may not win points for narrative or visual innovation, and can be - at times - a little annoying, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl benefits from a hugely talented central cast who, alongside screenwriter Andrews, help to develop the film into a warm and foretelling coming-ofage comedy that proves to be just as consistently funny as it is emotional.
Director: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon Distributor: 20th Century Fox Out: 4th September
FILM Director: July Jung Director: July Jung Distributer: Peccadillo picitures Out: 18th september
Korean cinema may be obscure to some, but if there is one film worth seeing it is A Girl at My Door. The film follows Young-Nam (Doona Bae), a police academy graduate who is transferred to a small seaside village. Young-Nam quickly learns that not much happens in this village, but is soon captivated by one of its young girls, Do-Hee (Sae-Ron Kim), who is clearly the victim of an abusive home. It quickly becomes clear also that she has moved to a very backward community where women are not recognised as a legitimate authoritative force, and it’s for this reason that the film carries with it an uncomfortable atmosphere, however one which is deemed entirely necessary by its plot.
Blu-ray Review:
AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON
Review:
A GIRL AT MY DOOR HOLLIE GERAGHTY
It is revealed that Young-Nam is battling personal demons, but she undergoes a complete character change when Do-Hee is left standing helpless at her door. In the couple’s first encounter, Young-Nam does not appear to be a particularly soft character, but through her deeply-ingrained maternal instinct she takes on the role of Do-Hee’s mother. This element of the film is incredibly moving, as it becomes clear that the two are simultaneously filling a void in each other’s lives. Both Bae and Kim deliver incredibly strong performances as two females struggling from their circumstances, and director July Jung ultimately succeeds in taking a relatively low budget film, and creating meaning at every opportunity. A very thoughtprovoking and strong piece of cinema.
Director: Joss Wedon Studio: Walt Disney Home Studios Entertainment Out: 14th September
ANNEKA HONEYBALL The penultimate movie of the second phase in Marvel’s Cinematic Universe, Avengers: Age of Ultron is a highly agreeable superhero adventure that, although not as universally perfect as its 2012 predecessor, is still immensely watchable. The film follows the Avengers as they find themselves pitted against malevolent AI menace, Ultron (James Spader) and the highly charged powers of the mutated Maximoff twins (Elizabeth Olsen and Aaron Taylor-Johnson).
vengeance for mankind. The main problem with the film however, is the way in which it has been cut and chopped to meet the required running time, with the subplots of some characters, like Thor, getting lost in the bigger action. Ultimately though, Age of Ultron is a very functional superhero movie that will no doubt please the majority.
Naturally, in a film where so much is packed in to accommodate Marvel’s future plans, there are elements that work and elements that don’t. For one thing, the chemistry between the main actors is as riveting and hilarious to behold as it was in the first film. Meanwhile, Spader absolutely nails it as the sinister, yet juvenile AI with a THE EDGE
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ONE TO WATCH:
Much of the best science-fiction isn’t actually about the science, but about society. This year’s Ex-Machina had a lot of surface about robots and humanity, but it could instead be read as really being about misogyny. Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind is about relationships and the importance of memory. And The Lobster, a hit at this year’s Cannes Film Festival (winning the coveted Jury Prize) looks to be another entry into the canon of such films. With one small difference that is: despite a premise seemingly right out of a classic dystopian, it would be a surprise if there is any sign of futuristic technology in the film at all. This will be the first feature-length English-language film of Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos, whose previous works include the films Alps and Canino and the critically acclaimed Oscar-nominated Dogtooth. In The Lobster, we are presented with a dystopian future revolving around the idea that it is much better to be in a couple than it is to be single, no matter the suitability of that couple. Hence, single people are taken to the hotel, to mix and mingle in the hope of finding another half. But if in the space of 45 days they cannot find anyone, they are transformed into beasts (of their choosing) and sent off into the woods, never to return to the city. Colin Farrell plays a single man in such a scenario, who goes by the name of David. The supporting cast is rounded out by the familiar likes of John C. Reilly, Rachel Weisz and soon-to-be Bond girl Lea Seydoux, amongst others, offering a plethora of
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Distributor: Picturehouse Entertainment Out: 16th October
incredible acting talent. It’s very hard to know what e l s e to say about this upcoming a n o m a l y however. From all the praise that has been awarded it, it sounds like more of a Wes Anderson art-special than a sci-fi, but the few images available show landscapes and costumes without that particular director’s flair for colour or style. One thing is for sure however, it will almost certainly not be to everyone’s tastes. Described as an absurdist comedy, it is highly likely to feature Lanthimos’ trademark dark wit which, although making waves with some, will likely shut down others entirely. But the very idea at the film’s core remains fascinating, and sounds like a definite effort to reflect social pressures and the challenges of human companionship in the real world. If all goes well, it could be another classic of social sci-fi like those mentioned earlier, without being even the slightest bit similar. Written by GEORGE SEABROOK
CULTURE
LOST IN THE ATLANTIC 2: Electric Boogaloo WRITTEN BY MATT CLARSON
I
n February of this year, film editor Ben Robins wrote an article looking at five films that, despite critical acclaim or cult appreciation, were never released in the UK. In the spirit of originality, here’s an article about some TV shows that due to the nebulous, red-tape shrouded mess that comprise international broadcast rights, are not available to watch in the UK, either on the TV itself, or on Netflix or Amazon Prime (or Netflix-lite). Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Each week, British comedian turned American comedian John Oliver takes over HBO to guide us through the week’s biggest stories, ridiculing world leaders and international corporations alike with a wonderful mixture of dry British humour and the energetic, erratic American variety. As hilarious as it is though, this is nothing new. We have our fair share here in the UK with Mock the Week, or Have I Got News For You. What makes Last Week Tonight stand out is that in every episode, Oliver delves into one important but often willfully ignored topic (kind of like a funny Louis Theroux). These topics range from Miss America Pageants and chauvinism, to FIFA and how it may well be the most evil organisation in the world. In each of these segments, Oliver manages to contrast comedy with some really harrowing investigative
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journalism, and while some of the topics he discusses may be centred on America, others have far-reaching implications, or can be seen reflected in our own country. EDIT NOTE: Now airs Mondays on Sky Atlantic
Saturday Night Live: Probably the most famous piece of entertainment that is currently unavailable in the UK. If you look at the profile of pretty much any famous American comedy actor, SNL will be on there somewhere. Since its first broadcast in 1975, SNL has been a staple of American television, garnering the highest number of Emmy nominations of any show ever, and listed as one of the best shows ever made by TIME. Each episode of the show features a celebrity guest host, including Tom Hanks, Danny DeVito, Bill Murray, and Dave Grohl. The show will then be made up of a monologue by the host, a number of sketches, all interspersed by musical acts from a guest musician. The sketches performed in each episode are all performed live (hence the show being called Saturday Night Live, rather than Saturday Night Pre-Recorded), which has led to numerous censorship breaches (always fun), famous people making mistakes (also always fun), and other famous people appearing unscheduled to sabotage the show.
CULTURE Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief: Another HBO production that really needs to make a trip across the Atlantic is Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief. A feature-length documentary made up entirely of interviews with previous members and first-hand footage, including people who, during their time there, were among the church’s topmost echelons. Going Clear takes us through the life of the church’s founder, L. Ron Hubbard (a thoroughly creepy dude) and explores as best it can the church’s new leader, David Miscavige (who is somehow even creepier). Going Clear takes a look unflinchingly at several of the darker aspects of the church, including a segment that will make you really, really not like Tom Cruise. Even for those uninterested by Scientology itself, this documentary is worth a watch: it shows both how easy it is for reasonable people to become wrapped up and sucked in by their religion, and how easy it is for them to be manipulated through those beliefs. iZombie: A TV show about zombies, based on a comic book. Don’t we already have two of those? Still, don’t knock it ‘till you try it. iZombie is about as far removed from The Walking Dead as Dora the Explorer is from a Mexican cartel. This show avoids being depressingly serious about an outbreak of zombie-flu, iZombie asks what would happen if there was just the one zombie, and no-one knew she was a zombie, and she used her zombie powers to solve crime. This might
be a good time to point out that iZombie is a bit more comedy oriented than its older, more violent brother. Also, the writers of iZombie don’t have some strange phobia of the word zombie, so that’s always a plus. Light-hearted, fun, and thoroughly embracive of the ridiculousness of its premise, iZombie is almost a post-zombie zombie show. The main character eats actual brains (but doused in hot sauce so she can taste them), and spends much of the show bemoaning her undead-ness. With the first season finishing earlier this year to high praise, iZombie has been greenlit for a second season, which is scheduled to premiere on October 6th. Mr. Robot: Mr. Robot is, to put it simply, fantastic. To put it less simply, Mr. Robot is like Fight Club with hackers. Its characters are incredibly well-drawn, quickly evoke empathy, and it is phenomenally well-made, with the kind of gorgeous cinematography that you usually only see in films. However, in the opening episodes its social commentary seems a little heavy-handed, but this gets dialled back as the season progresses, and reflects the current mood well. With its first season almost completed, Mr. Robot has received nothing but praise from critics, and has had a second season greenlit.
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Series to Sink your teeth into:
F
inding fantastic novels that grip you so much that you don’t ever want to put them down can be difficult. Once you’ve found such a novel, discovering that the author has written it as a stand alone work can be downright heartbreaking. So it is always a relief to find a novel that is both well written and the start of a long series, because you know that you have hours and hours of enjoyment coming. Well written, long running series come in two different variations: fantastic self contained narratives, where all of the installments involve the same set of characters, but each story is largely independent of the others, or complex narratives that weave together to create a larger storyline that grips from start to finish.
brothels and battles with frog demons.
Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files is a great example of the latter. The books focus on the life and work of private detective/wizard Harry Dresden, who lives in Chicago. He uses magic and his wits to solve the cases given to him by his clients, and he also consults for Chicago PD’s Special Investigations unit. The series is 15 books long so far, with a compilation of short stories also published, and further books to follow.
The characterisation is another strength of The Dresden Files. Harry is a compelling protagonist, who is formidable in his own right, as well as resourceful, but he is also out-matched by his enemies. His snarky mental comments and interactions with other characters are a joy to read. Butcher also writes women well. In the first novel alone the female characters are fleshed out and made into more than what could easily be stereotypes. For example, he creates a woman who is the wife of a Holy Knight, and who appears to be a stay at home mother, but adds depth to her - she is not reprimanded for being a wife and a mother, and is instead shown as strong in her own way.
The first book, entitled Storm Front, sees Harry investigating two separate events: the disappearance of a man, and the murder of a couple whose hearts have literally exploded out of their chests. Using various magical apparatus, as well as good old fashioned detective work, Harry finds himself thrown into mob drug wars, vampire 27
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So why embark on a series this long? Ultimately The Dresden Files is both well written, and well plotted. You don’t have to suffer awful word usage for a compelling storyline here! Butcher adds to the complexity of the plot slowly, allowing the reader to take in the developments as the novels progress. The first five or so books center around stories which could exist independently of one another, in them the antagonists are generally unconnected to each other. However, as the novels go on the reader begins to see a broader narrative developing, and that these antagonists are part of a wider web.
Storm Front by Jim Butcher was published in 2000.
CULTURE
ASSASSINS CREED THOMAS DAVIES
Debuting in 2007, the Assassin’s Creed series is now one of the flagship franchises for Ubisoft, and with a ninth instalment set for release this November, it’s fair to say that this series is definitely among the largest in gaming. It is however beginning to show its age, with many people arguing that the series has lost the charm that attracted them to it in the first place. With the disappointing release of Assassin’s Creed Unity last year, Ubisoft is running dangerously close to having to put this franchise out of its misery. So without further ado, here are five ways to fix the struggling series. 1) More stabbing, please Let’s avoid beating around the bush. When you pick up a game called Assassin’s Creed, you do expect a good deal of assassinating. So why is it that, the more games get made, the more you feel like you’re playing ‘Town Planning Committee’s Creed’? The series has become firmly rooted in annoying gimmicks, and while the town renovation stuff isn’t mandatory, it is just the tip of the iceberg. Assassin’s Creed III, and Unity are serial offenders on this count. 2) Bring back interesting modern storylines To their credit, Ubisoft never completely dropped the modern framing device that runs throughout the franchise. The first three games were framed in a complex modern-day story. This was seamlessly interwoven with the historical events displayed in the Animus, and was unceremoniously concluded in Assassin’s Creed III, before being forgotten about entirely. While there is still a modern framing device to these games, there’s no real story to them. They’re just there as set dressings now, whereas
before they added colour, flavour and an opportunity for us to learn about the Assassin/ Templar conflict. 3) More interesting settings Don’t get me wrong, piracy was a kickass backdrop (though not one that warranted two games), and the French Revolution should have paid off better than it did, but it’s kind of disheartening to see the franchise become
anchored in the 17th1 9 t h centuries. The feeble justification of focusing on the Kenway family sounds like an excuse to recycle old characters rather than develop new ones. To their credit, Ubisoft can’t take us to any time before the Crusades, but there’s still almost 1,000 years of history at their disposal. Give us something new here. 4) Take time making these “Damn Ubisoft, two Assassin’s Creed games in one year!? I foresee no possible way that this could go wrong” said Yves Guillemot. Unfortunately, while Guillemot lives on the seventh ring of Nebulon 6, we live on planet Earth, where an idea like that is always going to be terrible. It’s bad enough that we get one of these games every year, ensuring that the series will stagnate at some point. Until then though, the best we can hope for is that they won’t do something that stupid again. 5) Stop shoehorning in major historical events Just stop it.
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LIVE
WHO WE’d LIKE TO SEE PLAY SOUTHAMPTON Over the past few decades, some of the worlds biggest and most loved artists have travelled to the south coast to play one of the many music venues Southampton has to offer. From David Bowie to Ed Sheeran and from Oasis to Coldplay, artists are drawn to a city that thrives on live music. As a result, some of The Edge’s writers have come together to say who they’d love to see come to the city over the next twelve months.
SOPHIE McEVOY I’d love to see Neil Young. Just once. If Bob Dylan can make his way to the Guildhall, so can he.
MILLIE CASSIDY I have dreams of seeing Lana Del Rey. But I also have dreams of us running away and getting married, so...
LEWIS TAPLIN FKA twigs b r i n g i n g her vibes to S out hampton would be pretty ace.
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NATALIE FORDHAM Imelda May!
AMY WOOTTEN I’d love to see The National again so it’d be perfect if they came here. Granted, they may be more at home somewhere grand like Winchester Cathedral but the emotion and energy in their music would make for a beautifully intimate gig somewhere in Southampton. (they are currently working on new material so a girl can dream)
ANNABELLE ASKER Frank Ocean has been quiet for almost 3 years following the release of the mesmerising channel ORANGE. I’m desperate to see his name pop up anywhere on the UK music scene, let alone in Southampton.
LIVE Preview:
JOSH WIDDICOMBE @NUFFIELD THEATRE, SOUTHAMPTON WILL HODGETTS
Known for his vast number of appearances across many of the country’s favourite comedy panel shows, curly haired Devonian Josh Widdicombe will be in Southampton on the 4th October to make the audience of the Nuffield Theatre cry with laughter. Widdicombe started performing back in 2008 and got to the final of ‘So You Think You’re Funny’ at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in that same year. He has performed at the festival every year since in different capacities, but since 2008 has firmly established himself as one of the country’s best-loved comedians. His comedy news show The Last Leg, which he presents alongside Aussie Adam Hills and Alex Brooker, has gone from strength to strength. Starting off as a show that originally ran alongside the 2012 Summer Paralympics every night following the main coverage on Channel 4, The Last Leg has received nominations at the British Comedy Awards and Broadcast Awards, whilst winning at the Royal Television Society Awards. The Hammersmith-born star has also been working on his own sitcom, Josh, which he co-wrote with fellow comedian Tom Craine and is directed by David Schneider. A pilot of the show was aired on BBC Three in August of last year and has since been picked up for an entire first series, which is expected to air at some point this year. Whilst Widdicombe has been concentrating on panel shows and his sitcom, he has been away from the stand-up circuit, in his spare time he has found a lot of minor things to get annoyed about, and will be talking about all of them whilst on his Work In Progress Tour.
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LIVE
Preview:
WOLF ALICE
@O2 Guildhall, Southampton AMY WOOTTEN
W
olf Alice, the North London four-piece who got their name from an Angela Carter story, have taken the music industry by storm this year. They’re set for an eight-date headline tour after a summer of festivals and they will be bringing their grunge and pop transcending music to Southampton’s O2 Guildhall on the 23rd September. The band have emerged from their critically acclaimed Creature Songs EP which was released back in 2014, with their debut record being a product of two year’s worth of songs. My Love Is Cool transcends pop, indie and post-rock for an exciting and exhilarating debut, which will no doubt bring an exciting performance to the venue. Wolf Alice will be joined on stage by alt-rock brothers Drenge. They will instil excitement for the rocky show ahead, with harsh guitars and vocals. First in the line-up, though, is Made Violent, who have a jauntier, more carefree vibe about them. Given the band’s sheer energy in their performance of ‘Moaning Lisa Smile’ on James Corden’s Late Late Show on Monday 10th August, this date is one for the diaries.
Preview:
FALL OUT BOY
@Bournemouth International Centre MARCUS BRIDGLAND
A
long with six other UK dates, American rock band Fall Out Boy will be playing at the Bournemouth International Centre on the 10th October. The four-piece, who released their sixth studio album American Beauty/American Psycho on the 19th January, are back touring again in the UK after their two year hiatus between 2010 and 2012. Heralding from Chicago, Illinois, their breakthrough single, ‘Sugar, We’re Goin Down’, went Double-Platinum in the US and their popularity has rocketed ever since. The resulting album From Under The Cork Tree, released in mid-2005, has been their most successful album to date in terms of sales, however my personal favourite of theirs, Infinity on High reached number one in the US charts, a major accolade for the band. Renowned for their energetic live performances and punk melodies, Fall Out Boy are one of those bands that are a must-see live, so if you’re lucky enough to have one of the sought after tickets then you’re in for a treat! Support for the American Beauty/ American Psycho Tour are English rapper Professor Green and New York-based duo Matt and Kim.
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LIVE
Review:
The Costellos
@Lennons, Southampton
WILL HODGETTS 2015 has been a massive year for Southampton four-piece Throughout the performance there were numerous times The Costellos. Not only have they played their first ever when each musician was able to show their talent. Tomi batch of festivals, which include Common People, Isle Of was able to shows off his crazy skills on the drums on Wight and Victorious, they have also been announced more than one occasion with various solos that really got as support for The Spitfires’ UK headline tour. So when the crowd involved. Harry didn’t have an out-and-out they were announced as headliners for the Teenage Kicks solo on the bass but during some of the intros and breakFestival at Lennons Nightclub in Southampton, I didn’t downs you could really hear their inventive basslines. hesitate to go on behalf of The Edge and see what all the It would be very easy for a young bassist to just play a fuss was about. standard, simple bassline, but Stevenson uses his imagination. Unfortunately for Declan on lead guitar, the The rock ‘n’ rollers are certainly unique. Their style is sound desk got the volume levels wrong all night, which clearly inspired by the mod culture that used to surround meant that you couldn’t hear his solos properly. But from the likes of Oasis and The Jam, but has a freshness that what you could hear, the guitar is silky smooth and this doesn’t make them outdated at all. Frontman George guitarist possesses true skill. Dummett possesses a presence that is well beyond his years, whilst Declan Byrne (lead guitar), Harry Steven- The Costellos closed with ‘Keep On Lying’, which proved son (bass) and Tomi Lewis (drums) don’t let Dummett to be the best track of the night. Some tracks appeared steal all the limelight by showing off their own individual quite similar whereas their final number was completely brilliance with their respective instruments. different and showed just how much potential this group possesses going forward. The Costellos opened their headlining set with a right banger in the form of ‘Thinking About’. The baseline and Overall it was a very good performance from a band that riff were something special, whilst Dummett’s vocals has only been together for just over a year. Considering definitely draw comparisons to mod titan Liam Gallagh- how little time the band has existed, The Costellos would er. All the lights going out in the venue didn’t phase the make you believe that they have actually been around for quartet who continued professionally despite not being a lot longer through their sheer presence on stage alone. able to see a thing. The band definitely started as they It is easy to see why some of the biggest festivals in the meant to go on and didn’t take their foot off the pedal for country are sitting up and taking note of these four guys. their 45-minute set. There is no doubt that their star will continue to shine throughout the remainder of the year and will grow even ‘Down For The Weekend’, ‘All In Time’ and ‘Don’t You brighter in 2016. Watch this space. Know’ followed before the group performed their debut single ‘Bring Your Love Down’, which is available to download for free via their SoundCloud account.
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Listings 21st september
»» Brothers & Bones @ Talking Heads
22nd september
»» Minions @ Union Films, 5pm »» Mad Max: Fury Road @ Union Films, 8pm »» Kafka Tamura @ Joiners
23rd september
»» Horrible Histories - Groovy Greeks @ Mayflower (Until 27th September) »» Wolf Alice @ The Guidhall »» The Bluetones @ Pyramid Live
24th September
»» Horrible Histories - Incredible Invaders @ Mayflower (Until 26th Septmeber) »» The View @ Wedgewood Rooms
25th september
»» The Psychedelic Warlords @ Joiners »» The Toasters @ Talking Heads
27th September
»» Biters @ Joiners
28th september
»» Jurassic World @ Union Films, 8 pm
29th September
»» Lord of the Flies @ Mayflower Theatre (until 3rd October) »» Orpheus @ The Nuffield (Until 3rd October) »» Luke Pickett @ Joiners »» Barenaked Ladies @ Pyramids Live
30th september
»» The Wombats @ The Guildhall »» Tom Baxter @ Talking Heads »» Rat Boy @ Joiners
1st october
»» Bullet for my Valentine @ 02 Bournmouth Academy
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2nd October
»» Leftfield @ The Guildhall
3rd october
»» Surfer Blood @ Joiners »» The Dualers @ Talking Heads
4th october
»» Micheal Palin - The Thirty Years Tour @ Mayflower »» Josh Widdicombe @ Nuffield